Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-17
IN MEMPHIS.
Grand Reception of IA City's Guest~-De-
parture foe Nashville.

paruure foe Nashville.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, October l5.-The
managers Of the Presidential reception are
quite chagrined over the little mishap OF
yesterday, and were m consultation long
after midnight with regard to the proceed
ings OF today.
This morning the committee was prompt
ly on hand, but the late hoursof last night
caused q delay in starting the procession Of
carriages, and again upset the committees
arrangements. No harm was done beyOnd
a curtailmeut OF the opportunity offered
the President to see the town.
Memphis il not yet a beautiful city-it
heaIs too many Ul the scars of war and
peslilenre, hut it is a very busy one. The
old time auti.war architecture, showing
small and rustic fronts, prevails largely, but
in its main business thOIOughfares modern
structures of substantial appearance are
showing themselves, while the wharves
and warehouses shCw the seethIng, pushing
energy OF its business mel and give prom
iae Of Il prosperous future.
The procession, headed by the band and
military, moved from the hotel at a quar-
Ter before ten o'clock. The ride through
the town was fuit of interest. The decor
stions ATE probably moe elaborate and
mere genera than those Of any place yet
visited 10y the President with the possible
exception at Madison. Whatever gay c0iors
caGld do 70 make the occasion a success
has heen done. Twice along the line OF
march beautiful boquets OF flowers, In
unique designs were given to the Presi-
dent. TwiCe as many people rs were ever
seen iu town before were Oh the streets.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
The large, handsomely decorated stand
in the court house square was reached by
the President ahOut hali-past ten, and the
fOrmalitiCs of the reception were begun.
The formal speech of welcome was de-
liyercd by Judge III. T. Elicit, Of the
Chaucery Court, a gentleman Of high local
reputation, who spoke both for Memphis
and Tor the South.
lie extended, rs the representatives Of
the people OF Memphis, 4 hearty WELCOME
and presented in the most substantial and
practical form the freedom OF the city.
The President thea arose and wls greet
| ed with tremendous applause. lie replied
to the address of welcome ~ follows:
The city of Memphis represents neither
new settlement nor recent municipal cre;l-
| ton. She has a long history, full OF vicis-
| situde and dIsc0uraging III the past. In
Tennessee its first growth was illustrated
the universal push and activity Of its PEG,
pie.
81 have come from sightseeing in the
wonderful West to be still further sur
prised i'm the South. From marvellous
growth | have come TO see not only mar
Vicious growth but astonishing advance
ment. Scarcely a trace is seen OF the
trials and discOuragements through which
it passed in gaining its present position,
and yet, when it had, in 1863, BY steady
growth reached a population Of thirty
thousand. it WAS occupied by Il military
force, and for tour years thereafter was
held as a fortified camp. During this time
its people were scattered, and its growth
checked. When, at the close of the war,
its citizens returned 10 their homes, they
courageously set about repairing the dam
age of war and military occupation. Al
though within ten years thereafter twice
was this city afflicted with yellow fever,
vet even through these visitations, deter
mined to overcome, her people struggled
on.
Thus have you conquered ut last and
overcome the ravageaof war and pestilence.
You NAV we'll forget all former Affections
in the growth and prosperity Of the pres
ent, remembering only that in your direst
extremity proof wa given OF the brother
hood of the American people. The patri-
Otto sentiment expressed on your behalf by
your honored ftllow-Citizen in his address
of welcome, | am sure | may say will be
We generously responded TO by your country,
| men OF the North. They want, / believe,
rest from sectional bitterness and they
know that the destiny Of our country is
only to be achieved by true union In sen
timent, our feeling as well rs in aim. Ih(
business interests of n people are toe
alert and intelligent to be sacrificed or in
iursd by selfish appeals to passion which
| should he allayed. They only insist that
all results of the %aTbitrament of arms tC
which reference has here been made shall
be fully retained and enforced.
There floats past your city our nations
great river, which you %nghttully regard a;
a most important factor in your present
and future welfare, and which / believe Ii
universally recognized as a proper obJec'
of Government improvement. To Mem
phis and to every other city on its bank!
the improvement of this vast
HIGHWAY OF COMMERCE
is so essential that they should be inter
ested in having this and other proper worl